Ruthenium-Catalyzed Allylation of Aromatic Compounds and Allylic Ether Formation

Ruthenium-catalyzed C–H allylation of arenes with allylic amines

The Ru-catalyzed pyridyl-directed C–H allylation of arenes with allylic amines was carried out in the presence of 5 mol% of [Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂ and 0.5 equiv. of AgOAc in CF₃CH₂OH.

Temperature-controlled redox-neutral ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective allylation of benzamides with allylic acetates

Temperature controlled regioselective synthesis of ortho allyl and vinyl benzamides under redox-free conditions was reported. Detailed mechanistic investigation of the C–H bond activation and isomerization reactions was carried out.

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective allylation of five-membered heteroarenes with allyltributylstannane

Regioselective allylation of five-membered heteroarenes can be achieved using a palladium catalyst via η³-allylpalladium intermediates.

Copper-catalysed α-selective allylic alkylation of heteroaryllithium reagents

2-Allyl-substituted thiophenes and furans are synthesised efficiently in a direct procedure using 2-heteroaryllithium reagents and allyl bromides and chlorides catalysed by ligand-free copper(i). The reactions take place under mild conditions, with excellent α-selectivity, high functional group tolerance and good yields for the SN2 products.

Friedel-Crafts-type allylation of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds with allylic alcohols catalyzed by a [Mo3S4Pd(η3-allyl)] cluster

With the direct use of allylic alcohols as allylating agents, the Friedel-Crafts-type allylic alkylation of nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds catalyzed by a [Mo(3)S(4)Pd(η(3)-allyl)] cluster is achieved. With a 3 mol % catalyst loading in acetonitrile at reflux or 60 °C, a variety of N,N-dialkylanilines and indoles reacted smoothly with allylic alcohols to afford the Friedel-Crafts-type allylation products in good to excellent yields with high levels of regioselectivity.

Versatile Friedel-Crafts-type alkylation of benzene derivatives using a molybdenum complex/ortho-chloranil catalytic system

A variety of molybdenum complexes catalyze Friedel-Crafts-type alkylation reactions of benzene derivatives with alkenes and alcohols in the presence of an organic oxidant, o-chloranil. The utilization of [Mo(CO)(6)] and two equivalents of o-chloranil catalytically furnished the hydroarylation product of norbornene with p-xylene at 80 degrees C, whereas [Cr(CO)(6)] and [W(CO)(6)] failed to catalyze the same reaction, thus indicating the importance of the molybdenum source. The best results were obtained when a molybdenum(II) complex [CpMoCl(CO)(3)] (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) was used as a precatalyst. The hydroarylation reactions also took place with styrenes, cyclohexenes, and 1-hexene as olefin substrates. The electrophilic-substitution mechanism was proposed on the basis of the ortho/para selectivities and the Markovnikov selectivities observed for the hydroarylation products. Our hypothesis was further corroborated by the fact that in the presence of the [CpMoCl(CO)(3)]/o-chloranil catalytic system, secondary, benzylic, or allylic alcohols participated in the alkylation of benzenes with similar selectivities.